Chronic White Matter Inflammation and Serum Neurofilament Levels in Multiple Sclerosis
Pietro Maggi, Jens Kühle, Sabine Schädelin, Franziska van der Meer, Matthias Weigel, Riccardo Galbusera, Amandine Mathias, Po‐Jui Lu, Reza Rahmanzadeh, Pascal Benkert, Francesco La Rosa, Meritxell Bach Cuadra, Pascal Sati, Marie Théaudin, Caroline Pot, Vincent Van Pesch, David Leppert, Christine Stadelmann, Ludwig Kappos, Renaud Du Pasquier, Daniel S. Reich, Martina Absinta, Cristina Granziera
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether chronic white matter inflammation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) as detected in vivo by paramagnetic rim MRI lesions (PRLs) is associated with higher serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels, a marker of neuroaxonal damage. METHODS: In 118 patients with MS with no gadolinium-enhancing lesions or recent relapses, we analyzed 3D-submillimeter phase MRI and sNfL levels. Histopathologic evaluation was performed in 25 MS lesions from 20 additional autopsy MS cases. RESULTS: = 0.0002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Chronic white matter inflammation was associated with increased levels of sNfL and disease severity in nonacute MS, suggesting that PRL contribute to clinically relevant, inflammation-driven neurodegeneration.